PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION

 

There will be two papers in the Preliminary Exam 

Paper 1. General Studies

Paper 2. CSAT

 

Both the papers are mandatory to appear, if not the candidate is disqualified.

The preliminary exam will be objective-type papers. 

 

Paper 1

 

It consists of 100 questions with a maximum score of 200 marks, generally covering the following areas, and must be completed in two hours.

Important current occurrences on the national and international levels.

India's history and the Indian National Movement

Geography of India and the World: Physical, Social, and Economic Geography.

Indian Politics & Governance: Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Constitution, Political System, etc.

Economic and social development - poverty, inclusion, demographics, social sector initiatives, etc.

Environmental ecology, biodiversity, and climate change are all general topics that don't call for academic specialization.

General Science.

 

 

Paper 2

 

It consists of 80 questions from the following categories with a total possible score of 200, to be completed in two hours.

Note- 33% of the mark is mandatory to qualify this paper. 

Comprehension

Interpersonal skills including communication skills

Logical Reasoning and Analytical ability

Decision-making and problem-solving

General mental ability

Basic numeracy (Numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc) (Class X level)

 

 

                           Mains Syllabus

 

There will be a total of seven papers in Mains paper (5 general studies and 2 optional papers)

This will be a subjective type of pattern

Each paper comprises 250 Marks (7 x 250 = 1750)

 

 

PAPER 1- Essay (Marks- 250)

 

Candidates will be asked to write essays on a variety of subjects.

They will be required to write concisely, organize their ideas clearly, and stick strictly to the essay's topic.

 

 

PAPER 2- GENERAL STUDIES- 1 (Marks- 250)

 

INDIAN HERITAGE AND CULTURE, HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY OF THE WORLD AND SOCIETY

 

 

Indian culture will highlight the key elements of literature, art, and architecture from antiquity to the present.

Significant events, people, and topics from the middle of the eighteenth century until the present in modern Indian history.

The Freedom Struggle—its numerous phases and significant participants/contributions from various regions of the nation.

Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.

Events from the 18th century will be included in the history of the world, such as the industrial revolution, world wars, redrawing of national borders, colonization, and decolonization, as well as political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism, and others—their manifestations and social effects.

Important aspects of Indian society, as well as India's diversity.

women's organization and the role they play, population and related issues, poverty and developmental issues, and urbanization issues and solutions.

The social effects of globalization in India.

Secularism, communalism, regionalism, and social empowerment

 Key features of the physical geography of the world. 

The distribution of important natural resources around the globe (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent); the causes behind where primary, secondary, and tertiary sector enterprises are found around the globe (including India).

Important geophysical events like earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic activity, cyclones, etc., as well as changes to important geographic features like water bodies and ice caps, flora and fauna, and their repercussions, are all discussed here.

 

PAPER 3- GENERAL STUDIES- 2 (Marks- 250)

 

GOVERNANCE, CONSTITUTION, POLITY, SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

 

 

The roles and responsibilities of the Union and the States, problems, and difficulties associated with the federal system, and difficulties arising from the devolution of authority and resources to local levels.

Institutions and processes for resolving disputes, as well as a separation of powers among various organs.

A comparison of the Indian constitution with other nations' systems.

Historical foundations, development, characteristics, additions, key clauses, and fundamental structure of the Indian Constitution.

Appointments to various constitutional positions, authorities, jobs, and duties of various constitutional bodies.

The Representation of People's Act's key characteristics.

Various quasi-judicial, statutory, and regulatory entities.

 The structure, operation, and functioning of the executive and judicial branches of government, including their relationships with formal and informal associations, pressure groups, and government ministries and departments.

Parliament and State legislatures—structure, operation, conduct of business, powers & privileges, and issues resulting from them.

The role of NGOs, SHGs, diverse groups and alliances, donors, charities, institutional, and other stakeholders in development processes and the development sector.

Concerns with the growth and administration of the social sector/services in the areas of health, education, and human resources.

The performance of the Center's and States' welfare programs for the population's most vulnerable groups; institutions, laws, and other bodies established for their protection and advancement.

Issues about hunger and poverty 

Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Functions of the civil service in a democracy

India and its relationships with its neighbor country

Effect of developed and developing country policies and politics on India's interests and the Indian diaspora

Groupings and agreements on a bilateral, regional, or international level including India, and/or having an impact on India's interests.

Significant governance factors, including transparency and accountability, e-governance applications, models, successes, limitations, and possibilities; citizens charters, transparency & accountability, and institutional and other measurements.

The organization and mission of significant international institutions, agencies, and fora.

 

 

PAPER 4- GENERAL STUDIES- 3 (Marks- 250)

 

TECHNOLOGY, BIODIVERSITY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENT, SECURITY, AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT

 

 

Government Budgeting.

The Indian economy, includes planning, resource mobilization, growth, development, and employment-related challenges.

Inclusive growth and the problems it raises.

The main crops, cropping patterns in different regions of the nation, varied irrigation types and irrigation systems, storage, transport, and marketing challenges, as well as related limitations; and the use of e-technology by farmers.

Concerns about buffer stocks and food security, direct and indirect farm subsidies, minimum support prices, Public Distribution System goals, operations, and shortcomings, Technology missions, and Animal husbandry economics.

Land reforms in India.

Food processing and related sectors in India: their size and importance, where they are, what is needed in the upstream and downstream, and supply chain management.

Investment models.

Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy, and their effects on industrial growth.

Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways, etc.

Scientific and technological advances made by Indians; localization of technology and creation of new technology.

Disasters and their management 

Science and technology advancements, as well as how they are used and impact daily life.

Environmental impact assessments, pollution and degradation of the environment, and conservation.

 Knowledge in the areas of information technology, space exploration, computers, robotics, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and challenges with intellectual property rights.

The mission of various security forces and organizations.

Security issues and how they are handled in border regions - connections between organized crime and terrorism.

The contribution of non-state and state actors from outside in posing threats to internal security.

Links between the growth and spread of extremism

Challenges to internal security posed by communication networks, the media's and social networking sites' contribution to internal security issues, the fundamentals of cyber security, and money laundering and its prevention 

 

PAPER 5- GENERAL STUDIES- 4 (Marks- 250)

 

ETHICS, APTITUDE, AND INTEGRITY

 

This includes inquiries testing the applicants' attitudes and strategies for coping with concerns of integrity, probity in public life, and their approach to overcoming problems that they may encounter in dealing with society.

Topics covered 

Attitude: its substance, structure, and function; its relation to cognition and behavior; its influence on moral and political attitudes; and its capacity to influence and persuade others.

Civil service aptitude and core principles, such as honesty, objectivity, and partisanship; dedication to the public good; empathy, tolerance, and sympathy for the underprivileged.

The principles of emotional intelligence, as well as their benefits and applications in governance and administration.

The contributions of moral philosophers and thinkers from India and other countries.

Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and issues; ethical worries and conundrums in governmental and private institutions; laws, rules, and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.

The Concept of Public Service; the Philosophical Foundations of Governance and Probity; Information Sharing and Transparency in Government; Citizen's Charters; Work Culture; Quality of Service Delivery; Utilization of Public Funds; Challenges of Corruption.

Case Studies on the above issues.

 

PAPER - 6 and 7 (Marks- 250 Each)

 

Optional papers 1 and 2

 

There are 2 required papers for each optional subject.

 

A candidate may select one of the following as an Optional Subject:

 

(i) Agriculture

(ii) Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science

(iii) Anthropology

(iv) Botany

(v) Chemistry

(vi) Civil Engineering

(vii) Commerce and Accountancy

(viii) Economics

(ix) Electrical Engineering

(x) Geography

(xi) Geology

(xii) History

(xiii) Law

(xiv) Management

(xv) Mathematics

(xvi) Mechanical Engineering

(xvii) Medical Science

(xviii) Philosophy

(xix) Physics

(xx) Political Science and International Relations

(xxi) Psychology

(xxii) Public Administration

(xxiii) Sociology

(xxiv) Statistics

(xxv) Zoology

(xxvi) Literature of any one of the following languages: 

 

Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu and English.